Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) said his party will strongly oppose any projects that harm farmers, including hydrocarbon and methane extraction projects.
Speaking at a campaign event in Melur, Madurai, he said that during AIADMKās rule, delta districts were declared a protected agricultural zone to block harmful projects. He also recalled stopping a tungsten project in the past through protests and pressure on the Central Government.
Palaniswami accused the current DMK government of failing to protect farmersā interests. He said that petitions given by farmers during the DMKās outreach programs remain ignored.
He also spoke about the Mullai Periyar reservoir issue, claiming that a Supreme Court order to raise the water level to 152 feet, obtained during Jayalalithaaās tenure, is not being implemented because of resistance from DMKās allies in Kerala.
EPS said AIADMK will always raise its voice for farmers and will continue to oppose harmful projects.